by Spenser Hoyt

THE NIGHT STRANGLER (1973) The Kolchack TV movies are legendary and, even though it grossly misrepresents the Seattle Underground,The Night Strangler is one of the best "set in Seattle" films. It's a follow-up to the hugely popularThe Night Stalker, which introduced Carl Kolchak (Darren McGavin), an investigative reporter who specializes in the supernatural. In the first film he happened upon a vampire in Las Vegas and this time he encounters a seemingly immortal ghoul who thrives on the blood of go-go dancers. And, no, the ghoul in question is not Frank Colacurcio. The film was mostly shot on location in Seattle and mixes authentic locations and details with variations on real places. As an additional treat, the fun cast is packed full of familiar faces like John Carradine, Al (Grandpa Munster) Lewis, Margaret (The Wicked Witch of the West) Hamilton and Richard (Oscar Goldman) Anderson.

CHILD IN THE NIGHT (1990) Darren McGavin is back in Seattle but this time in a supporting role. He plays eight-year-old Elijah Wood’s grandpa. Young Wood witnessed the murder of his father by a killer with a cargo hook and local boy Tom Skerritt is a police detective who can’t find any leads on the rain slicker-clad killer. JoBeth Williams plays a child psychologist who is called in to help with the disturbed youth. Williams & Skerritt brush against their Poltergeist franchise legacy and have a casual cheeseburger lunch date at the late, lamented Buckaroo Tavern. Skerritt says, "Buckaroo's has the best burgers and fries in Seattle." I don't remember seeing any food there besides pickled eggs and potato chips and I certainly don't think anybody was going there specifically for cheeseburgers. One of the best parts of Child in the Night is its vintage VHS box art that features a blood-dripping hook and a quote that boldly asserts thatChild in the Night is a "non-violent mystery thriller."

ROSE RED (2002) This six-hour miniseries written by Stephen King follows a troop of psychics (including Scarecrow pal Kevin Tighe) who investigate the spooky shenanigans at a haunted mansion called Rose Red. Lakewood, Washington’s Thornewood Castle portrays Rose Red and in the film Rose Red is located on First Hill. The interiors were shot on sets built in the hangers at Magnuson Park and all sorts of Seattle locations are used. The team drinks beer at The Ram brewpub and a character works at Ivar’s Acres of Clams plus there are a bunch of historical flashbacks filmed in Pioneer Square. The strangest part of the miniseries is the bizarro world Seattle skyline—Mount Rainier is north of the city, Phinney Ridge is not there and Lake Union opens up directly into Puget Sound.Rose Red was a hit so they cranked out a cheap follow-up called The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer which was mostly filmed in Tacoma. DIVORCE WARS: A LOVE STORY (1982) Following in the footsteps of Kramer vs. Kramer, Ordinary People and the highly recommended made- in-SeattleTwice in a Lifetime, this ABC Movie of the Week was produced when divorce was a hot topic in movies. The plot follows Jack Sturgess (Tom Selleck, between Magnum P.I. seasons), a busy local divorce lawyer who is up to his briefcase in numerous heated cases while, ironically, his relationship with his wife (Jane Curtin, fresh fromSaturday Night Live) is falling apart.Divorce Wars is jam packed with local scenery and was shot entirely on location all over town-much to the delight of local Selleck stalkers. He jogs past Kerry Park, he works downtown, he drinks at Vito’s, he buys flags in Ballard and he teaches law at the UW. He’s having an affair with Mimi Rogers and some of his clients are portrayed by Joan Bennett (in her final performance), Viveca Lindfors and Charles Haid.

REFLECTIONS OF MURDER (1974) This is an adaptation of the famous French filmDiabolique which was, in turn, based on a novel by the prolific author Pierre Boileau. Joan Hackett stars as a teacher at an all-boy private school who conspires to murder her cruel lover who happens to be the school's headmaster. Tuesday Weld portrays her partner in crime and Sam Waterston is the jerk headmaster. If you have seen the originalDiabolique or the crappy but funny ’90s remake or the other TV movie version (House of Secrets) then you are well aware of the film's twist. The remote private school is a boat ride from downtown Seattle so we get a lot of ferry terminal footage. Also seen are a few establishing shots of the city that prominently display The Smith Tower and, naturally, The Space Needle. There is also a tense scene on the Alaska Way Viaduct (RIP) involving a flat tire, a corpse in the trunk and an inquisitive but ultimately helpful motorcycle cop.

THIRD DEGREE BURN (1989) Treat Williams is a private eye who gets hired to find out if a rich man's wife (Virginia Madsen) is having an affair. Sure enough, Treat and Virg end up having an affair themselves. The P.I. soon finds himself caught up in a series of double crosses that could have been avoided if he'd rented Body Heatfrom Scarecrow. The very first image of this made for HBO neo-noir is the Space Needle and this movie is jam packed with Seattle area location footage. Williams' office is located in Pioneer Square with a window right next to the viaduct. Madsen eats at the Il Bistro restaurant and takes a stroll through the Pike Place Market. A scene unfolds by the Black Hole Sun sculpture in Volunteer Park, a car drives on the viaduct with the Kingdome proudly standing in the background, there's a funeral at Lake View Cemetery, a meeting occurs in the King Street Station, a low-key chase takes place in the International District, Treat finds a dead body in Lake Union near Lynn Street Park, and somebody gets a tankful at the Hat and Boots gas station back when it was a functioning service station.